04/24/23 Missouri Mondays - MO GOP doubles down on easing gun laws after tragic week! More guns do
...do NOT keep us safe! Stand up! Fight back!
Welcome to another Missouri Mondays. We are sickened and outraged over the shooting of 16-yr old Ralph Yarl for ringing the doorbell at the wrong house and unfortunately the teen was not the only victim shot last week for being accidentally in the wrong place. One died from her injuries.
Ralph’s story made national news for several days before Missouri Governor Mike Parson finally released a statement lacking humanity and accusing President Biden of politicizing the shooting for reaching out to Ralph and his family. “I don’t want some 16-year-old kid to be getting shot because he went to the wrong house — we just don’t want those kinds of things to happen. It’s a tragedy. When the president of the United States is trying to make a political statement over a very serious tragedy, it is very unfortunate and I don’t agree with trying to make political points out of terrible — I’ve never done that since I’ve been governor.”
For the record, Governor Parson pardoned the McCloskey’s, the St. Louis couple who pointed guns at Black Lives Matter demonstrators as they marched past the couple’s home.
Republicans have stoked fear and paranoia to promote easy access to guns, to justify guns everywhere and vigilante stand your ground laws “linked to rising deaths and racist violence.” We know more guns do not keep us safe or protect lives.
Will you join us fighting back?
Find everything you need to take action from home or in Jefferson City. Help us spread the word to others to get involved and share our link to sign up for Missouri Mondays: https://www.moactionalliance.com/signup.
TELL SENATORS TO VOTE NO ON HB 282 CARRYING GUNS ON BUSES AND IN CHURCHES!
Last week the House passed HB 282 and is now in the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure, and Public Safety Committee.
Allows a concealed carry permit holder to lawfully carry firearms on buses and MANDATES acceptance of concealed carry in churches
LOWERS the age requirement from 19 to 18 years of age for concealed carry permits.
Radical gun laws pushed by Republicans over the last 20 years have made Missouri the fourth most lethal state for firearm deaths in the country.
TELL SENATORS TO VOTE NO ON HB 282!
Find your Senator using the Legislator Lookup here: https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Defaul
Call the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure, and Public Safety Committee members here: https://senate.mo.gov/Committees/CommitteeDetails/53
Assistant House Minority Leader Rep. Richard Brown spoke passionately against HB 282. Watch his full speech shared on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MOLegDems/status/1648332068353372165?s=20
TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT THE CITIZEN’S INITIATIVE PETITION PROCESS!
For more than 100 years Missourians have utilized the initiative petition process to expand Medicaid coverage, overturn the right to work law harming unions, and legalize medical and recreational marijuana. Now the GOP majority seems desperate to find ways to make it harder if not impossible to place a measure on the ballot through the initiative petition process and pass it statewide.
CALL YOUR STATE SENATOR TO VOTE NO ON HCS HJR43, SJR 12, OR ANY EFFORTS TO UNDERMINE THE CITIZEN-LED INITIATIVE PETITION PROCESS!
Senate Democrats held the Senate floor for almost four hours filibustering HCS HJR 43 and as a result Senate Republicans sat the bill aside. WE KNOW THIS FIGHT IS NOT OVER!
Increases threshold for passage of constitutional amendments from a simple majority to 60%.
Statutory initiatives would pass with a simple majority.
Defines "eligible voters" as only US citizens and residents of Missouri.
Requires the Secretary of State to provide voters in each Congressional district with a period in which to review and comment upon all initiative petitions proposing amendments to the Constitution
Under current law, an initiative petition proposing a constitutional amendment must already contain a single subject
Would add confusing language defining the single subject rule potentially making it easier to further restrict the initiative petition process.
Find your senator using the Legislator Lookup here: https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default
Or
Call 1-833-491-0334 MO Jobs with Justice initiative petition patch-through line to leave a voicemail for your State Senator!
Find detailed legislation information on HCS HJR 43 and more in MOVPC’s Legislative Tracker here: bit.ly/movotingbills
~~~~~
TELL YOUR STATE SENATOR TO VOTE YES ON THE BUDGET WITH LIBRARY FUNDING RETURNED AND DEI BAN LANGUAGE REMOVED!
Last week the Senate Appropriations Committee added $4.5 million for public libraries back to the budget that had been removed by House Budget Chair Rep. Cody Smith (R-Carthage) in retaliation for a lawsuit challenging last year’s book ban law. The Senate Appropriations Committee also removed House budget amendments blocking state spending on diversity initiatives. The budget still has to be approved by the full Senate.
TELL YOUR SENATOR TO VOTE YES ON THE BUDGET WITH LIBRARY FUNDING RETURNED AND DEI BAN LANGUAGE REMOVED!
Find your senator using the Legislator Lookup here: https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default
Read more here:
“Missouri senators add library funding back into state budget; remove anti-DEI wording”
~~~~~
TELL REPRESENTATIVES TO VOTE YES ON HB 900 HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR MIDWIVES AND DOULAS!
House Healthcare Reform Committee
Hearing on HB 900
Wednesday, April 26
12:00 PM or upon morning recess (whichever is later)
House Hearing Room 5
Sponsored by Rep. Jamie Johnson (D-Kansas City), HB 900 creates provisions relating to health insurance coverage for services provided by midwives and doulas.
HB 900
Would require private insurance companies in the state of Missouri to cover midwife and doula services in their health plans
Missouri is 49th in the nation in health outcomes for pregnant people. The bill will work to supply additional resources to improve the health outcomes of pregnant people and alleviate some of Missouri’s issues with maternal mortality.
SUBMIT WITNESS TESTIMONY here: https://house.mo.gov/WitnessForm/Default.aspx?bill=HB900¬iceid=7916
CONTACT THESE COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Rep. Kent Haden 573-751-3649
Rep. Melanie Stinnett 573-751-0136
Rep. Patty Lewis 573-751-2437
Rep. Mitch Boggs 573-751-4077
Rep. Cyndi Buchheit-Courtway 573-751-7735
Rep. Betsy Fogle 573-751-9809
Rep. Jamie Gragg 573-751-2565
Rep. Ben Keathley 573-751-1247
Rep. Chantelle Nickson-Clark 573-751-2135
Rep. Sean Pouche 573-751–6593
Rep. Brian Seitz 573-751-1309
Rep. Lisa Thomas 573-751-1119
Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch 573-751-1169
Rep. Sarah Unsicker 573-751-2883
CHECK OUT OUR MISSOURI MONDAYS NEWS SUPPLEMENT!
With so much important news each week we don’t want you to miss a thing!
Check out our MISSOURI MONDAYS NEWS SUPPLEMENT here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13cokjWlCh2EkY5K6bM357rjVPizZDzxlMqjAuoBQfoI/edit?usp=sharing
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THESE UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS
TAKE ACTION WITH THE MISSOURI VOTER PROTECTION COALITION (MOVPC)
TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE
Join the MOVPC weekly meeting MONDAYS at 10 AM
Text “MOVPC” to 66866 or register HERE: bit.ly/protectmovoters
Our work to protect the vote requires our continued attention! So we hope you'll join our next MOVPC call where we will discuss next steps in our fight to protect the right to vote in Missouri. MOVPC is a nonpartisan statewide network promoting access to the ballot and working to remove barriers to voting in Missouri!
Democratic Legislative Network Monday Night Call
Every Monday night at 7pm
Want to stay up to date on what's happening in Jefferson City and how YOU can help secure Democratic victories for Missouri? Sign up below to join the Democratic Legislative Network and be a part of our Monday night messaging calls.
Sign up here: Bit.ly/MissouriDLN
~~~~~
SUPPORT MISSOURI'S CITIZEN INITIATIVE PROCESS WITH MOVPC AND THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE COALITION
Thanks to all of you who have testified, called and written your legislator - and thanks to lawmakers who stood up against HJR 43! While we've slowed movement, we're not out of the woods yet! To show statewide support for Missouri's Initiative Petition process, the Will of the People Coalition and MOVPC are planning rapid response simultaneous pop up regional press conferences/support actions across the state - St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia and Jefferson City. These will occur at 11am the day after any final vote in the legislature passing legislation to gut Missouri's IP process.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! Please help plan ahead for these solidarity actions by choosing: (1) a leadership role, (2) helping, (3) supporting (4) endorsing or (5) volunteering at local IP press events in your region.
SIGN UP to participate in initiative petition actions HERE: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdEDAnY6HfiWep7_7dfmHB1Xfsi6GtYeYzSsRnO1ApVRV9fSQ/viewform
~~~~~
HEARTLAND POD INTERVIEW WITH MISSOURI ACTION ALLIANCE
Heartland POD Host Adam Sommer chats with Marsha Lerenberg about Missouri Action Alliance’s story and mission of state legislature voter education and engagement.
Listen on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IESESihHx8
~~~~~
MISSOURI VOTER PROTECTION COALITION (MOVPC)
VOTING RIGHTS DAY AT THE MO STATE CAPITOL
TUESDAY MAY 2ND
9:00AM-1:00PM
RSVP HERE: bit.ly/May2lobby
On Tuesday. May 2, 2023, 9 am - 1pm, Missouri voter advocates will hold a Voting Rights Day at the Missouri State Capitol Rotunda to draw attention to pending voting bills in Missouri - including moving proactive voter access measures as well as continue to call on lawmakers to stop the attacks on the citizen initiative process. Join advocates from across Missouri in a nonpartisan Pro-Democracy Day at the Capitol to hear what's at stake for voting rights in Missouri, get engaged, and thank lawmakers who have stood up for our freedom to vote.
~~~~~
FIND MORE UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19AZUdtRH5WXefOC4Q5D9u-HyuzhBEL8rYX9Ospn3n18/edit?usp=sharing
THANK YOU! for answering the Missouri Mondays CALL TO ACTION!
Invite your friends and neighbors to join us and sign up for Missouri Action Alliance and this Missouri Mondays email at moactionalliance.com/signup
Follow us on Twitter at @MissouriAction, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MOActionAlliance and check out our website at http://www.MOActionAlliance.com
